A Striking Monument on the Lisbon Waterfront:

Monument to the Overseas Combatants, Lisbon

One of the more recent additions of significant monuments to Lisbon’s waterfront is the Monument to the Overseas Combatants. This eye-catching Lisbon attraction commemorates all the people involved in the wars that Portugal was involved with overseas.

The architect’s concept of having a simple design is so that people can focus what the monument represents rather than its details. A more elaborate sculptural or architectural form may have the potential of omission of details or offending some people due to incorrect interpretations.

The cold geometry of the frontal view is intentional and also directs the attention of viewers towards the centre where the flame of the nation is placed.

The water of the lake symbolizes the distance and separation of the combatants from home and family. No individuals or wars are mentioned on the monument and the only the inscription commemorates the monument to the overseas combatants.

The project’s intention is to contribute to the unification of all the people involved in the overseas wars without constraint or resentment, but fully recognizing the historic and cultural reality which they all together established in the world.

Two soldiers stand guard at the Monument and if you’re around the area for a while you’ll see the changing of the guards take place.

If anyone has a more accurate interpretation of the architect’s concept, kindly drop me a line.

Comments

Nice post. Lisbon is known as commercial hub of the city. Cruise boats harbor very near to this bridge, at the Doca de Alcantara. You can see Belém waterfront, Castelo de São Jorge, yellow colored Tram, Parque das Nações. Lisbon is a shopping locality, you can see wicker, embroideries, lace, copper utensils, pottery, other ceramics. Portuguese is the basic language of the city.